Hutch checks out the new EP form MTRO v4 alumni Death Assault, here’s what he thinks about the boys from the South West..

Released a few days ago, A Time After Time is the debut EP from the Plymouth-based outfit. Describing themselves as a thrash-fusion band, the M2TM finalists are certainly not short on confidence. Formed a mere 12-months ago, they’ve clearly decided to full bore with this release.  

It’s a raw and enthusiastic EP that straddles genres. Plenty of groove, thrash, and modern metal combine to provide five-tracks over just short of 20 minutes. Opener Kill builds slowly, with the drums beating out the pattern whilst the guitars weave in and out, but once it starts, it’s all systems go. The vocals follow the generic pattern that so many bands display today, but there is a rasping aggression in Darrell’s singing that pushes it forward. 

Track two is Time, which pulls back from the thrash edge and moves much more into the Pantera style chug. It’s a grower, despite the repetitive riff and rather one-dimensional style. The classic Heavy Metal intro to Follower gives a glimpse of promise before it gives way to an up-tempo potty mouthed diatribe which has a horrible finish. Such is the folly of youth, I guess. It’s a little amateurish and it’s been done a million times before.  

Scarred by Arrogance is a horrible blend of nu-Metal and chugging groove, before exploding into a thrashing last minute. At least it’s short. And that leads to the horror- tinged Moros which finishes the EP. A brooding song that is overloaded with narrative and effects at the start, it somehow feels like it should evolve into something more than it does. I appreciate the intention, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. I’m not sure that Death Assault really know where they were going with it; the hybrid Slipknot copy being the most obvious route.  

Overall, if I was scoring this, it would get a 7/10, for despite my criticism, there is some real promise and Moros is a song that has ambitions above the more routine smash and bash of the others here. Live, I bet they work well, and for a new band, there is plenty of potential. A band well worth following to see what happens next. 

Check it out for yourselves and see if you agree with Hutch… HERE